Tonic Arts
Enhancing environments and enriching experiences.
Tonic Arts is NHS Lothian Charity’s vibrant, award-winning arts in health programme, creatively enhancing the patient, staff and visitor experience at NHS Lothian.
Working in partnership with staff and patients, we deliver a diverse arts programme of events, workshops, exhibitions and site-specific art commissions that help improve staff and patient health and wellbeing across the NHS Lothian community.
Watch our video to find out more about how we use art and creativity to enhance health and wellbeing
Latest news
Nicola Benedetti brings festival experience to patient…
We were delighted to welcome Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival and world-renowned violinist, to the Royal Infirmary […]
Music jams help to improve mental health and wellbeing…
Music jams bring the healing power of live music to the Royal Edinburgh hospital during Mental Health Awareness Week.
Healing Through Dance: Gentle Movement Classes Boost W…
In a heartwarming collaboration between Dance Base and NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts, patients at East Lothian Community Hospital are […]
Encore! NHS Festival Sessions Return for 2025 Bringing…
Our 2025 NHS Festival Sessions will once again bring the magic of world-class musical performances directly to patients, families, staff, and volunteers across NHS Lothian hospitals.
What’s on
Mindful Walks in West Edinburgh: An Art Exhibition by Julia Murden
Explore Julia Murden’s Mindful Walks in West Edinburgh exhibition at The Western General Hospital, featuring art inspired by mindful walking […]
Positive Health: Green Health and Tonic Arts Network Gathering 2025
Our 2025 Network Gathering is a platform for sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and advancing positive health initiatives using creativity and nature.
NHS Festival Sessions
We’re thrilled to be continuing our exciting partnership with Edinburgh International Festival, bringing world class artists to perform for patients and staff across NHS Lothian.
Tonic Arts Network: Using Art and Design to Transform Healthcare Spaces
Join us for our next online network event to discover more about our Havens participatory project, other staff wellbeing projects and how to develop them.
Spotlight on: Havens
NHS Lothian Charity’s programmes, Tonic Arts and Green Health, in partnership with Stills Gallery, are proud to present ‘Havens’ – a series of portraits and stories documenting NHS Lothian staff members’ work-life experiences.
Our Work
Tonic Commissions
Tonic Collection
Tonic Exhibitions
Tonic Participation
Only 3 days left in our Walk 100 Mile Challenge! 🚶♂️🚶♀️
Don`t worry there’s still time to smash your fundraising goals and log those final miles!
We are proud of every single one of you who has taken part in this challenge, send us a message or let us know how you are getting on in the comments!
#CharityChallenge #MonthlyChallenge #Walk100Miles
Only 3 days left in our Walk 100 Mile Challenge! 🚶♂️🚶♀️
Don`t worry there’s still time to smash your fundraising goals and log those final miles!
We are proud of every single one of you who has taken part in this challenge, send us a message or let us know how you are getting on in the comments!
#CharityChallenge #MonthlyChallenge #Walk100Miles
Last week, we had the pleasure of having @Tcv_theconservationvolunteers help out at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital!
What a great day it was brightening the place up, thank you to all involved!
#VolunteerWork #MakingADifference #HealthAndWellness #GreenHealth
Last week, we had the pleasure of having @Tcv_theconservationvolunteers help out at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital!
What a great day it was brightening the place up, thank you to all involved!
#VolunteerWork #MakingADifference #HealthAndWellness #GreenHealth
Our Nature Ranger Lou has been making the most of the recent weather, taking staff on wellbeing walks around the grounds of the Royal Infirmary, stopping and learning about the wildflowers! 💮🥀
Learn more about our #GreenHealth projects on our website!
#staffwellbeing #wildflowers
Our Nature Ranger Lou has been making the most of the recent weather, taking staff on wellbeing walks around the grounds of the Royal Infirmary, stopping and learning about the wildflowers! 💮🥀
Learn more about our #GreenHealth projects on our website!
#staffwellbeing #wildflowers
We’re thrilled to share that Dentons has raised £14,000 for NHS Lothian Charity`s Fighting Against Cancer Edinburgh (FACE) fund! From yoga sessions and bake sales to raffles and personal challenges, their amazing team came together to make a real difference for local cancer patients. We’re so pleased to be partnering with them again this year—here’s to another year of compassion and community support. 💜
#CharityChampions #charitypartnership
We’re thrilled to share that Dentons has raised £14,000 for NHS Lothian Charity`s Fighting Against Cancer Edinburgh (FACE) fund! From yoga sessions and bake sales to raffles and personal challenges, their amazing team came together to make a real difference for local cancer patients. We’re so pleased to be partnering with them again this year—here’s to another year of compassion and community support. 💜
#CharityChampions #charitypartnership
Our Tonic Arts Manager Susan Grant presented our East Lothian Community Hospital enhancements last week to the European Healthcare Design 2025 Congress in London. Joining a panel of National Arts in Hospitals Network members, they outlined best practice – from engagement with stakeholders to collaborative working between artists, architects and NHS communities – and highlighted the power of the arts to create inclusive, positive and humane spaces that support the health and wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff. A case study on our enhancement project is forming part of NAHN’s new toolkit on the arts and environment, launching next month! #TonicArts #ArtsinHealthcare
Our Tonic Arts Manager Susan Grant presented our East Lothian Community Hospital enhancements last week to the European Healthcare Design 2025 Congress in London. Joining a panel of National Arts in Hospitals Network members, they outlined best practice – from engagement with stakeholders to collaborative working between artists, architects and NHS communities – and highlighted the power of the arts to create inclusive, positive and humane spaces that support the health and wellbeing of patients, visitors and staff. A case study on our enhancement project is forming part of NAHN’s new toolkit on the arts and environment, launching next month! #TonicArts #ArtsinHealthcare
🎉 It’s NHS’s birthday – and you could be the one to WIN £2,000! 🎉
In honour of NHS’s birthday, we’re hosting a special NHS Birthday Prize Draw, with 26 prizes up for grabs this July and a chance to win £2,000! 🎁
Already part of our staff lottery? You’re automatically entered! Not signed up yet? Sign up by July 1st, 2025, and you could win big!
Let’s celebrate in style! 🎉
Join the staff lottery today (link in bio).
*Please note this lottery is only available to NHS Lothian staff
#HappyBirthdayNHS #StaffLottery #PrizeDraw #BigWin #CelebrateNHS
🎉 It’s NHS’s birthday – and you could be the one to WIN £2,000! 🎉
In honour of NHS’s birthday, we’re hosting a special NHS Birthday Prize Draw, with 26 prizes up for grabs this July and a chance to win £2,000! 🎁
Already part of our staff lottery? You’re automatically entered! Not signed up yet? Sign up by July 1st, 2025, and you could win big!
Let’s celebrate in style! 🎉
Join the staff lottery today (link in bio).
*Please note this lottery is only available to NHS Lothian staff
#HappyBirthdayNHS #StaffLottery #PrizeDraw #BigWin #CelebrateNHS
Have you visited the Royal Infirmary recently?👀 Our Nature Ranger and Volunteer have been busy helping improve the entrance way. 🪴 Let us know if you have noticed the planters! #GreenHealth #Gardening #Improvements
Have you visited the Royal Infirmary recently?👀 Our Nature Ranger and Volunteer have been busy helping improve the entrance way. 🪴 Let us know if you have noticed the planters! #GreenHealth #Gardening #Improvements
Well-considered decor can have a significant impact on healthcare settings, and the people who come into contact with them, especially in the context of trauma-informed care.
Working with staff and stakeholders at the Sycamore Centre, an equally safe multi-agency Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), our Tonic arts team commissioned artist and designer, Louise Kirby, to help create a more welcoming and supportive environment for individuals to begin their recovery journey.
While the building’s function was well-defined, its design lacked warmth and individuality. The goal was to transform the space into a trauma-informed, person-centred environment that fostered a sense of comfort and support and alleviated the clinical and institutional feel of the space.
Louise has transformed the space through the sensitive application of nature-based design. Her talent for blending calming aesthetics with a deep understanding of the impact of the environment has led to the creation of a welcoming, warm and peaceful space. "Rhythms of Nature" brings elements of nature into the building inspired by a bright Scottish woodland walk. Circular elements feature on wooden panels, feature murals, signage, visual wayfinding and window enhancements throughout the Centre’s public areas and twelve interview and treatment rooms.
#TonicArts #ADoseOfCreativity #TraumaInformedCare #NatureBasedDesign #ArtInHealthcare #HealingEnvironment #DesignForWellbeing #LouiseKirbyDesign
Well-considered decor can have a significant impact on healthcare settings, and the people who come into contact with them, especially in the context of trauma-informed care.
Working with staff and stakeholders at the Sycamore Centre, an equally safe multi-agency Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), our Tonic arts team commissioned artist and designer, Louise Kirby, to help create a more welcoming and supportive environment for individuals to begin their recovery journey.
While the building’s function was well-defined, its design lacked warmth and individuality. The goal was to transform the space into a trauma-informed, person-centred environment that fostered a sense of comfort and support and alleviated the clinical and institutional feel of the space.
Louise has transformed the space through the sensitive application of nature-based design. Her talent for blending calming aesthetics with a deep understanding of the impact of the environment has led to the creation of a welcoming, warm and peaceful space. "Rhythms of Nature" brings elements of nature into the building inspired by a bright Scottish woodland walk. Circular elements feature on wooden panels, feature murals, signage, visual wayfinding and window enhancements throughout the Centre’s public areas and twelve interview and treatment rooms.
#TonicArts #ADoseOfCreativity #TraumaInformedCare #NatureBasedDesign #ArtInHealthcare #HealingEnvironment #DesignForWellbeing #LouiseKirbyDesign